Epstein Scandal References Spread in US-Iran War Messaging

References to Jeffrey Epstein scandal have spread in discourse around the US-Israel war with Iran, as Iranian officials & American political commentators invoke the scandal to challenge the credibility of US political establishment during the conflict.

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Iran's Larijani in a message to Muslims:

To the Muslims around the world and to the governments of Islamic countries:

1- Iran was subjected to a deceptive American–Zionist aggression that occurred during negotiations, with the aim of dismantling Iran. This aggression led to the martyrdom of a great leader of the Islamic Revolution and many civilians and military commanders. However, the aggressors faced strong national and Islamic resistance from the Iranian people.

2- You know that, except in rare cases and limited political positions, no Islamic state stood alongside the Iranian people. Nevertheless, the Iranian people, through their strong will, were able to suppress the aggressor until it has now become unable to find a way out of this strategic impasse.

3- Iran is continuing on the path of resistance against the “greater Satan” and the “lesser Satan,” meaning America and Israel. But is the position of some Islamic governments not contradictory to the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Whoever hears a man calling ‘O Muslims’ and does not respond to him is not a Muslim”? What kind of Islam is this?

4- Some countries have gone even further and declared Iran an enemy because it targeted American bases and American and Israeli interests on their territory. Should Iran stand idle while American bases in your countries are used to attack it? This is only a flimsy pretext. Today the confrontation is between America and Israel on one side and Iran and the forces of resistance on the other. So which side do you stand on?

5- Think about the future of the Islamic world. You know that America is not loyal to you and that Israel is your enemy. Pause for a moment and reflect on yourselves and on the future of the region. Iran is sincere toward you and does not seek domination over you.

6- The unity of the Islamic Ummah, if achieved with full strength, is capable of guaranteeing security, progress, and independence for all its countries.

South Africa Refuses U.S. Demand to Cut Ties with Iran

Foreign Affairs Director Zane Dangor said South Africa will not cut ties with Iran despite U.S. pressure, as tensions with Washington deepen over Pretoria’s Gaza case against Israel, Black empowerment laws & a proposed refugee program for white South Africans.

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NEW: NATO is considering strengthening missile defenses in Türkiye due to the growing threat from Iranian missiles.

The alliance may deploy an additional Patriot missile defense system to Incirlik Air Base.

Source: Bloomberg

📸 Dubai.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

Hundreds of Iranian civilians have been killed in Israel-U.S. bombings, including over 200 children.

Reports claim that some neighboring states which host U.S. forces and permit attacks on Iran are also actively encouraging this slaughter.

Stances should be promptly clarified.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov:

People show interest in the jobs that are available here.

We are not recruiting; we are responding to requests.

Citizens of China, India, and Central Asia already work here.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on the Strait of Hormuz:

For some reason, no one is concerned about freedom of navigation in the Mediterranean, Baltic, and Black Seas, where Ukrainian terrorists attack tankers.

Trump:

Susie Wiles is an incredible Chief of Staff, a great person, and one of the strongest people I know but, unfortunately, she has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, and has decided to take on this challenge, IMMEDIATELY, as opposed to waiting.

German Chancellor Merz on Iran:

We will not participate in this war.

Trump on Iran:

Since the beginning of the conflict, we struck more than 7,000 targets across Iran; these have been mostly military and commercial targets.

Trump on Iran:

They don’t have too many missiles left.

German Chancellor Merz on Iran War:

The region must not slide into an eternal war with unclear goals. This war must be brought to an end with a clear plan, with a strategy.

We are not participating in this war; we said that from day one. That remains the case for us.

As long as the war continues, we will not participate in it with military means to ensure free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

To this day, we are not aware of any concept as to how such an operation could succeed at all.

The United States of America and Israel did not consult us before this war either.

Regarding Iran, there has never been a joint decision on the 'whether.'

Therefore, the question of how Germany will get involved militarily here does not arise. We will not do it.

Trump on Iran:

We have destroyed all of their mine-laying ships.

We don’t know if any mines have been laid.

Trump on The Strait of Hormuz:

We get less than 1% of our oil from the strait.

Some countries get much more: Japan 95%, China 90%, and South Korea 35%.

We want them to come and help us with the strait.

Trump on The Strait of Hormuz:

Numerous countries have told me they are on the way.

Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t.

Trump:

I know we’ll protect them if ever needed. But if we ever needed help, they wouldn’t be there for us.

I’ve known that for a long period of time. Just like I knew that the Strait would be used as a weapon. I predicted all of this a long time ago.

I predicted a lot of things. Osama bin Laden—knocking out the World Trade Center—I made that prediction.

Trump on Iran:

I say it wouldn’t matter whether you were targeted or not, because this is a paper tiger that we’re dealing with.

Now, it wasn’t a paper tiger two weeks ago. It is a paper tiger now.

Trump on Richard Grenell:

He was the Ambassador to Germany. As you know, there was no happier woman in the world when he left that position—Angela Merkel.

She called me and said, “Thank you, sir, thank you.” Although she liked Ric a lot, there was nobody happier that he was no longer going to be the Ambassador to Germany.

He was difficult for them. He was not your typical Ambassador. He was the opposite. He did what was best for the United States, not for Germany, and I want to tell you he did a great job.

He did such a good job that I put him in charge of something called intelligence—something he didn’t really want to do. But he did it, and he did it incredibly well.

There were a lot of leakers. He found the leakers. And when he couldn’t find out who the leaker was in a certain area, he fired everybody.